Latch assembly for tackle boxes and the like



3,134,617 LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR TACKLE BOXES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 3. 1961 May 26, 196 e. R. SLONNEGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR TACKLE BOXES AND THE LIKE Filed on. s, 1961 May 26, 1964 G. R. SLONNEGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,134,617 LATH ASSEMBLY FOR TACKLE BOXES AND THE LKKE Glen Richard lonneger, Lancaster, Pa, assignor to Animal Trap (Zompany of America, Lititz, Pa, a corporation of Pennsyivania Filed Oct. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 142,545 2 Ciaims. (Cl. 292-3) This invention relates generally to latch assemblies and more particularly to a latch assembly having a new and novel main catch and safety-catch arrangement.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, easily constructed latch assembly readily mounted on a container or box for releasably fastening a lid or cover hinged thereon.

A feature of the latch assembly, according to the invention, is the provision in the assembly of members readily formed and in which two catches are unfastened by a single finger-operated member which must be actuated positively thereby precluding inadvertent opening of the box lid or cover.

Another feature is that one of the two latches, namely the safety latch, is automatically fastened when the cover lid is closed and must be released positively before the box can be opened.

Other features and advantages of the latch assembly in accordance with the present invention will be better understood as described in the following specification and appended claims, in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1, is a perspective view of a box provided with a latch assembly, according to the invention;

FIG. 2, is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and illustrates the latch assembly in a latched condition;

FIG. 3, is a sectional view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1, and is illustrative of the operation of the latch assembly;

FIG. 4, is a sectional view taken along line 4-4- of FIG. 5, and is illustrative of the manner in which the safety catch is maintained in position even though the main catch is released;

FIG. 5, is a fragmentary front view illustrating the latch assembly with the main catch in a released or open position, and the safety catch engaged; and

FIG. 6, is a sectional view of the latch assembly in FIG. 4, illustrative of the release of both catches for opening the lid of the box.

The latch assembly, according to the invention, is illustrated in the drawings as applied to a tackle box. It will be understood, of course, that it is equally applicable to other containers, for example tool boxes and the like.

According to the drawings the latch assembly is mounted on a container or tackle box 1 having side walls 2, 3 and a hinged lid or cover 4 operable to a raised or open position and a lowered or closed position. The lid or cover is provided with a handle 5 for opening the box 1 and carrying it. The box 1 can be constructed of any suitable material, for example plastic or metal.

The latch assembly, according to the invention, comprises a combination catch member 9 having a body portion secured, for example by rivets 10, on a front face 4:; of the cover 4. The catch member 9 comprises a hookshaped first catch 13, best seen in FIG. 6, integral with the body portion of the latch member 9 and extending outwardly from the side wall 2. A beveled edge or surface 14 on the top of the combination catch member body portion is beveled downwardly toward the cover and forms a notch for retaining a second or main catch as hereinafter described.

A toggle combination is fixed on the front wall 2 of 3,134,612 Patented May 26, 1964 ice the box 1 and comprises a strike member 15 fixed on the front wall of the box, for example by rivets 16. The strike member comprises a flexible portion or tongue 17 having an opening 19 for releasably receiving the first catch 13 to form a spring safety catch operative as here after described. This tongue also provides toggle snapaction described below. The strike member, flexible portion 17 is made of a suitable bendable material that can restore itself, for example a bendable plastic, tending to cause the flexible portion 17 to assume an upstanding position as illustrated in FIG. 2, in which it lies in the path of travel of the catch 13, when the lid is being closed. The catch 13 is provided with a cam surface 1341 which strikes a strike part 21 of the portion 17 moving it away from its normal upstanding position allowing the catch 13 to move into the opening 19. As soon as the hook portion of the catch 13 passes the strike part 21 the flexible part 21 lies in the path of travel of the hook catch 13 forming a releasable safety catch in the event that the cover 3 is sought to be opened.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the hook portion of the first catch 13 is spaced downwardly from the body portion of the latch member 9 and extends outwardly as heretofore described. Since the portion 17 having the strike part 21 is biased normally to lie in the path of travel of the catch 13, the first catch forms a spring safety latch which must be positively released as hereinafter described.

The strike member 15 is provided with a pair of spaced lugs or projections 15a, 15b extending forwardly on which is pivotally mounted a finger-operated toggle or lift member 25. The lift member 25 is provided with two pairs of fingers 26, 2'7 and 28, 9 embracing the two lugs 15a, 15b. Pivot pins 31, 32, for example in the form of rivets, pivotally mount the finger-operated toggle member 25, on the strike member 15. The toggle member 25 has a lift lever portion 25a having two side flanges 25b, 25c forming sides thereon enclosing the strike member 15. The fingers 2'7, 29 constitute extension of the sides 25b, 250.

A second toggle member comprising an enclosed bail catch 36 is pivotally mounted on the toggle member 25 on a pair of pivots 37, 38 so as to provide toggle action. The second catch 36 is provided with a central portion or part 36a forming a continuation of the finger-operated lift lever portion 25a when the latch assembly is in a latched condition and precludes the bail catch 36 from falling downwardly relative to the lift member. The portion 36a holds the bail catch substantially upstanding relative to the lift member as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 in constant readiness for engaging the catch member 9 as later described. The bail catch 36 has flanges or sides 36b, 36c which jointly with a bail portion 36d enclose the catch member 9 and the upper part of the strike member thereby jointly with the finger-operated lift or toggle member forming a protective arrangement for the various parts of the latch assembly when the assembly is in a latched condition as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and also providing a finished appearance to the latch assembly. The bail portion 36d is disposed for overlying and engaging the beveled edge 14 of the catch member 9 fixed on the lid when thelatch assembly is in a completely latched condition. The toggle member 25 is operable to a raised position, illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the second or bail catch 36 is disposed in position for engaging in the notch and then by operating the finger-operated toggle member 25 to a lowered position, illustrated in FIG. 2, the first or safety catch cooperates with the notched catch member 9 and the second or bail catch engages in the notch formed by the beveled edge or surface 14 so that the latch assembly holds the catch in a secured stationary closed position. It is apparent that the latch assembly,

according to the invention, comprises two latches, namely a safety latch and a main latch as described above.

The second or main latch, comprising the bail catch, is the first latch released when opening the box. t is released by operating the finger-operated toggle member or lift member 25 to a raised position, illustrated in FIG. 3, and then moving the bail or main catch away from the lid in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 4- and 6. It being understood that in the condition illustrated in FIG. 4 the safety latch comprising the first catch 13 would still be in an engaged condition since the safety catch would remain engaged with the strike member so that the box could not be opened.

In order to completely open the box the strike part of the strike member flexible portion or tongue 17 must be biased away from the path of travel of the hook portion of the first or safety catch 13. In order to accomplish this the finger-operated toggle member 25 is provided with a pair of cams 42, 43 integral with two fingers 26, 2% respectively. front face of the box 2 and two marginal side portions 45, d6 of the flexible tongue or strike portion 17 defining the opening 19 therein. These cams are each provided with a flat surface, for example 43a, which is disposed in a vertical or upright position when the main catch is in a closed condition allowing the strike portion 17 to assume an upstanding position substantially parallel to the front face 2 of the box, as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the finger-operated lift member 25 is operated to a raised position the cams cam the strike member portions 45, outwardly away from the box and move the strike member portion 17 and its strike part 21 outwardly away from the front face 2 of the box and away from the path of travel of the first catch hook portion 13 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, so that the safety catch or first catch can be released permitting opening of the box as illustrated in FIG. 6. The cams bear against the tongue 17 so that the pivot pins 31, 32 are placed in shear and not in tension. The stress of the cam action is on the pivot pins and because the cams and tongue bear against one another in opposite directions it is minimized. The cam action stress is, therefore, internal of the latch assembly and not between the latch and the box which would tend to push the latch away from the box.

In order to preclude the overstressing of the flexible strike portion 17, and to preclude the strike part 21 from moving out from under the toggle member 25 if the toggle member was capable of being lifted too high, a stop 48, formed integrally with the lever part 250: of the pivotally operated lever or finger-operated member 25 is engaged by the strike part 21 as the strike member, FIG. 3, is moved away from the box by the cams, as indicated heretofore, thereby precluding further upward travel of the finger-operated member and unnecessary upward movement of the bail catch.

When the lift member 25 is released the flexible tongue 17 bears against the cams and automatically restores the lift member to a lowered condition. Furthermore, when the main latch is in a latched condition the tongue holds the lift member 25 snugly against the box front wall 2 and imparts a clamping or holding action to the bail catch holding it in a downward or catch-engaging position by virtue of the lowered position in which the tongue holds the lift member.

It; is apparent, therefore, that the latch assembly, according to the invention, provides an arrangement by which a hinged lid or cover on a box cannot be opened unless positive acts take place. First, the main or bail catch must be opened by raising the finger-operated or lift member 25 to a raised position for releasing the main catch. The main catch is then manually moved apart from its coactive latch member. If the fingeroperated lever 25 is released it is automatically returned to its lowered position, shown in FIG. 2, by the restora- The cams are disposed between the agar? tion of the flexible portion 17 to its upstanding condition. Thus, the member 25 must be held positively in a semi-raised position to release the safety catch. It being understood that if the operating member 25 is released prior to lifting the lid the flexible strike member portion in returning to its normal upstanding position also biases the finger-operated member to its lowered position, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, as indicated heretofore, in which case the operating member 25 must again be raised to release the safety catch. The box can, therefore, be opened only when positive acts take place to cause such an opening and cannot be inadvertently opened or left open if the lid is closed. In which case there is no possibility of spilling the contents of the box.

the embodiment shown and described the main parts and members thereof are of a suitable material, for example a rigid plastic material. The portion 17, is as heretofore stated, made of a bendable material capable of restoring itself to a normal condition in the absence of pressure thereon.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A latch assembly for releasably fastening a cover hinged on a container having side walls comprising, a catch member fixed on said cover comprising a hookshaped first catch facing outwardly away from said box and having a surface disposed spaced from said catch and beveled downwardly in a direction toward said cover, a latch combination mounted on a side wall comprising a pivotally mounted main bail second catch operable to a lowered position engaging said beveled surface to fasten said cover and to a raised position disengaged from said first catch and clear thereof to permit upward movement of said cover to at least a partially opened position, a strike member mounted on said side wall of said container having a defiectable, flexible portion capable of self-restoration provided with an opening for receiving said first catch and a strike part biased in a direction for automatically positioning it transversely of the path of travel defined by said first catch for engagement by said first catch and defiectable by said first catch away from said wall as said cover is closed and automatically restorable to said position in said path of travel for releasably engaging said first catch when said cover is in a closed position, a finger-operated lift member pivotally mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said side wall pivotally mounting said second catch thereon forming a toggle combination therewith and operable pivotally, selectively to a lowered position for operating said second catch to said lowered position engaging said beveled surface thereby to fasten said cover and operable to a raised position for operating said second catch to said raised disengaged position clear of said beveled surface releasing said catch member, means pivotally mounting said second catch on said lift member to allow movement of said second catch in a direction toward said box and away therefrom when said finger-operated member is in its raised and lowered positions respectively thereby to cause engagement and disengagement of said second catch with said catch member as said lift member is lowered and raised, said lift member having means effective automatically in the raised position of said memher for camming said strike part of said flexible portion of said strike member in a direction away from said side wall and clear of said path of travel of said first catch to allow movement of said cover to a completely opened position, and means on said lift member effective to limit the extent said strike member is cammed away from said side wall and the extent said lift member is raisable.

2. A latch assembly for releasably fastening a cover hinged on a container having side walls comprising, a catch member fixed on said cover comprising a hookshaped first catch and having a surface disposed spaced from said catch and beveled downwardly in a direction toward said cover, a latch combination mounted on a side wall comprising a pivotally mounted main bail second catch operable to a lowered position engaging said beveled surface to fasten said cover and to a raised position disengaged from said first catch and clear thereof to permit upward movement of said cover to at least a partially opened position, a strike member mounted on said side wall of said container having a deflectable, flexible portion capable of self-restoration provided with an opening for receiving said first catch and a strike part biased in a direction for automatically positioning it transversely of the path of travel defined by said first catch for engagement by said first catch and deflectable by said first catch away from said wall as said cover is closed and automatically restorable to said position in said path of travel for releasably engaging said first catch when said cover is in a closed position, a finger-operated lift member pivotally mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said side wall pivotally mounting said second catch thereon to form a toggle combination therewith and operable pivotally, selectively to a lowered position for operating said second catch to said lowered position engaging said beveled surface thereby to fasten said cover and operable to a raised position for operating said second catch to said raised disengaged position clear of said beveled surface releasing said catch member, means pivotally mounting said second catch on said lift member to allow movement of said second catch in a direction toward said box and away therefrom when said lift member is in its raised and lowered positions respectively thereby to cause engagement and disengagement of said second catch with said catch member as said lift member is lowered and raised, said lift member having cam means eifective automatically in a raised position of said member for camming said strike part of said flexible portion of said strike member in a direction away from said side wall and clear of said path of travel of said first catch to allow movement of said cover to a completely opened position, said cam means being dis- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 195,117 Frankel Sept. 11, 1877 1,603,418 Scheider Oct. 19, 1926 2,953,404 Miller et al. Sept. 20, 1960 

1. A LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR RELEASABLY FASTENING A COVER HINGED ON A CONTAINER HAVING SIDE WALLS COMPRISING, A CATCH MEMBER FIXED ON SAID COVER COMPRISING A HOOKSHAPED FIRST CATCH FACING OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID BOX AND HAVING A SURFACE DISPOSED SPACED FROM SAID CATCH AND BEVELED DOWNWARDLY IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID COVER, A LATCH COMBINATION MOUNTED ON A SIDE WALL COMPRISING A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED MAIN BAIL SECOND CATCH OPERABLE TO A LOWERED POSITION ENGAGING SAID BEVELED SURFACE TO FASTEN SAID COVER AND TO A RAISED POSITION DISENGAGED FROM SAID FIRST CATCH AND CLEAR THEREOF TO PERMIT UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER TO AT LEAST A PARTIALLY OPENED POSITION, A STRIKE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SIDE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER HAVING A DEFLECTABLE, FLEXIBLE PORTION CAPABLE OF SELF-RESTORATION PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID FIRST CATCH AND A STRIKE PART BIASED IN A DIRECTION FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING IT TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL DEFINED BY SAID FIRST CATCH FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID FIRST CATCH AND DEFLECTABLE BY SAID FIRST CATCH AWAY FROM SAID WALL AS SAID COVER IS CLOSED AND AUTOMATICALLY RESTORABLE TO SAID POSITION IN SAID PATH OF TRAVEL FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST CATCH WHEN SAID COVER IS IN A CLOSED POSITION, A FINGER-OPERATED LIFT MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SIDE WALL PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID SECOND CATCH THEREON FORMING A TOGGLE COMBINATION THEREWITH AND OPERABLE PIVOTALLY, SELECTIVELY TO A LOWERED POSITION FOR OPERATING SAID SECOND CATCH TO SAID LOWERED POSITION ENGAGING SAID BEVELED SURFACE THEREBY TO FASTEN SAID COVER AND OPERABLE TO A RAISED POSITION FOR OPERATING SAID SECOND CATCH TO SAID RAISED DISENGAGED POSITION CLEAR OF SAID BEVELED SURFACE RELEASING SAID CATCH MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID SECOND CATCH ON SAID LIFT MEMBER TO ALLOW MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND CATCH IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID BOX AND AWAY THEREFROM WHEN SAID FINGER-OPERATED MEMBER IS IN ITS RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY THEREBY TO CAUSE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID SECOND CATCH WITH SAID CATCH MEMBER AS SAID LIFT MEMBER IS LOWERED AND RAISED, SAID LIFT MEMBER HAVING MEANS EFFECTIVE AUTOMATICALLY IN THE RAISED POSITION OF SAID MEMBER FOR CAMMING SAID STRIKE PART OF SAID FLEXIBLE PORTION OF SAID STRIKE MEMBER IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID SIDE WALL AND CLEAR OF SAID PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID FIRST CATCH TO ALLOW MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER TO A COMPLETELY OPENED POSITION, AND MEANS ON SAID LIFT MEMBER EFFECTIVE TO LIMIT THE EXTENT SAID STRIKE MEMBER IS CAMMED AWAY FROM SAID SIDE WALL AND THE EXTENT SAID LIFT MEMBER IS RAISABLE. 